Israel launches cyber warfare training program

Israel is developing a national program that trains young people for cyber warfare to boost its ability to deal with the increasing number of online attacks.

According to The Jerusalem Post's report Wednesday, the program named "Magshimim Le'umit" has been in development for the past three years and targets outstanding pupils aged between 16 and 18 to join up.

Israel Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said the country's computer systems are facing attacks from Iran and other countries, and such attacks are set to increase in the digital age. The goverment is also bolstering its ability to deal with these threats through the Israel National Cyber Bureau (INCB), he added.

Netanyahu also said the outstanding pupils were "future interceptors for the state of Israel". "We are one of the world's leaders in the field of cybernetics, and we must maintain this position. Therefore, we will continue to cultivate the generation of the future," he said.

INCB's head Eviatar Matania added Israel needed and intended to improve its method of operation. The program is an example of how the country is advancing in the field of cybernetics to develop "high-quality human capital" in Israel, Matania said.

Last November, a number of Israeli Web sites were subject to attacks from hacktivist group Anonymous as the latte protested against the Israeli attacks on Gaza. Pakistani hackers, too, defaced multiple high-profile sites to protest the same attacks.